Alberta's new ethics commissioner was put to the test moments after being sworn in Wednesday amid opposition grumbling that he was a partisan choice by the governing Progressive Conservatives.

The Liberals moved quickly to deliver an official request to Neil Wilkinson for a review of all people appointed to the province's powerful new health superboard.

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft suggested one board member may already be in a conflict of interest because his company does millions of dollars worth of government construction.

"We're putting this ball in the ethics commissioner's court and we're going to look for a quick, decisive ruling on it," said Taft.

Opposition politicians are also concerned about Wilkinson's appointment because of what they say are his close Tory connections.

Wilkinson most recently served as chairman of the regional health authority in Edmonton that was disbanded in May when the superboard was created.

He was selected from 100 candidates by a Tory-dominated all-party search committee that recommended the legislature vote to accept him.

At that time, Taft described him as someone "who is as tight to the Tories as humanly possible." Rachel Notley of the NDP said he has a long history of "being a person that the Tories can count on to do what they need to have done in whatever political realm he's in."

But Wilkinson dismissed criticisms that he should never have been selected for what is expected to be a highly non-partisan job.

"Trust is extremely important to me and I took an oath of office, which I take very, very seriously," he said after his swearing-in ceremony.

"All Albertans can trust me and all elected members can trust me for sure to carry through with that trust and I won't let them down."

Wilkinson added he hadn't seen the Liberal request yet for a superboard review, so he couldn't say anything.

Health Minister Ron Liepert told the legislature earlier this week that he's open to the idea of having board members reviewed by the ethics watchdog.

But on Wednesday the minister took a swipe at the Liberals and accused Taft of trying to score cheap political points with disparaging allegations about a newly appointed board member.

"For someone (board member) to have shares in a company that may or may not be dealing with the Alberta Health Services Board is ludicrous at best," said Liepert.

"These Liberals stand for nothing. They are desperate and they will resort to anything to try and make a point."

None of the opposition members on the search committee supported Wilkinson being given the job.

Notley -- who skipped the swearing-in ceremony -- even went so far as to say that he was the least qualified candidate on the short list.

Political analyst Keith Brownsey described Wilkinson's appointment as bizarre given that he was rejected by both the Liberals and New Democrats who sat on the selection committee.

Taft was more reserved in his comments Wednesday. He said he'll give Wilkinson a chance to prove himself in his new role.

"I'm going to begin on a basis of goodwill. It will be interesting to see how he manages."